mftrace ☆
« Back to VersTracker
Description:
Trace TeX bitmap font to PFA, PFB, or TTF font
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 1.2.20@0  |  Tracked Since: Oct 20, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: fonts tex conversion vectorization utility
Install: brew install mftrace
About:
mftrace is a utility that converts TeX bitmap fonts into scalable outline formats like PFA, PFB, or TTF. It automates the process of tracing bitmaps using autotrace or potrace and generates the necessary Metafont files. This tool is essential for modernizing legacy TeX font collections for use in PDF generation and other contemporary systems.
Key Features:
  • Converts TeX bitmap fonts to scalable outlines
  • Supports PFA, PFB, and TTF output formats
  • Uses autotrace or potrace for high-quality vectorization
  • Automates generation of required Metafont files
Use Cases:
  • Converting legacy TeX fonts for use in PDF workflows
  • Creating TrueType versions of bitmap fonts for web or desktop use
  • Restoring and modernizing old document archives
Alternatives:
  • fontforge – A full font editor that can import bitmaps but is more complex and less automated for this specific task.
  • autotrace – The underlying tracing engine that mftrace uses; mftrace adds TeX-specific logic and workflow automation.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Oct 20, 2025 12:54pm 2 VERSION_BUMP 39f200bc
Sep 16, 2025 2:34am 2 VERSION_BUMP 84bbbbea
Sep 14, 2024 3:32am 2 VERSION_BUMP ae1e3480
« Back to VersTracker  |  Browse Packages  |  About